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October 4, 2009

How to Improve Our World: One Stone for Many Birds

We all realize that the world we inhabit is far from perfect, right? Even on a good day, there are some things we'd probably all like to improve.

Consider the following goals for a moment:

Reduce costly military conflict

Promote LGBT equality

Promote atheist civil rights

Promote the equitable treatment of women around the world

Reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS

Improve quality education for all

Reduce unwanted pregnancies

Wouldn't it be great if there was something we could do that would lead to simultaneous progress in each of these areas, as well as many other worthy goals? What if I told you that there was indeed something we could do that would have that sort of impact?

We can work toward ending the special status currently enjoyed by religious belief. This is not going to happen overnight, but it is an extremely worthy goal. We do not need to call for the abolition of religion, although I see little wrong in hoping that that will eventually occur. We need only end the privileged status currently attached to religious belief.

It is time to demand of believers that they take their personal choices and preferences in these non-rational and too often dangerous matters into the private sphere, like their sexual proclivities. Everyone is free to believe what they want, providing they do not bother (or coerce, or kill) others; but no-one is entitled to claim privileges merely on the grounds that they are votaries of one or another of the world’s many religions.